Demographic aging entails social, economic and political challenges. Given the proliferation of works
that approach the phenomenon focusing on its quantitative aspect, the implications that the changes in
the demographic structure of the population may have on basic pillars of the welfare state, this thesis
proposes an alternative approach focused on its qualitative aspect, based on the concept of active
aging, aimed at promoting elderly’s social and labor participation, autonomy and independent living.
This dissertation has focused on the study of autonomy, and the ability for independent living of the
elderly, which are primary concerns of the social policies of active aging and essential elements of the
quality of life of the elderly. It has examined several aspects related to the life and residential strategies
of the elderly (such as their living arrangements, daily activity patterns and the mediation of health on
these areas) and has done so by exploring different spaces (the home, whether it be an individual’s
home or an institution; and social spaces).
The demographic approach has age, gender and cohort as major variables of the analysis. The study has
been complemented with sociodemographic variables related to family formation trajectories and
socioeconomic status, as well as health indicators and functional ability. Several data sources were used
to study the elderly’s lifestyles over the last three decades. The main data sources that have been
analyzed are: the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE; 1987-2011), the Catalan Health Survey (ESCA
2006), the Catalan Health Survey of Institutionalized Population (ESPI 2006), the Survey of Health,
Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE 2004-2011) and the national censuses from seven countries
(1981-2011)
As a result of the implications that the abandonment of formal paid employment has on the balance of
public economic transfers, the study of the elderly is usually addressed to population ages 65 or older.
However, people remain healthy and active for several years after age 65. The loss of autonomy in
performing daily activities is quite moderate until ages 75-80. Partly due to this fact, this age threshold
tends to mark major changes in the lifestyles of the elderly: both in terms of residence and in the forms
of socialization outside the home. For instance, the loss of a spouse means the loss of companionship
and emotional support, as well as a potential source of care in case of physical or mental health decline.
Results show the trends in health and residential behavior of the past three decades in Spain. First,
chronic cardiovascular conditions have worsened, while there are no signs of change in the levels of
disability of the elderly. Second, intergenerational co-residence has declined, while the shares of
residential independence among elderly living at home and institutionalization have both increased.
However, the most interesting findings of this study are derived from the population diversity that
shapes different ways of living in old age in both private and public spaces. The main conclusions are
structured around population heterogeneity in terms of sex, generational and social affiliations. In
addition, it uncovers different lifestyles depending on family histories.
The thesis focuses on the qualitative aspects of demographic aging with the intention of repositioning
the elderly in this debate as actors with agency, rather than a population that endangers the welfare
state by potentially triggering fiscal imbalances. Finally, this dissertation also invites to reflect on the
quality of age as well as on the generational aspect and its implications on the changing composition of
the population.